After I completed my undergraduate degree I completed an Event Marketing Management Certificate at BCIT. On numerous occasions I was offered the opportunity to choose ‘Wedding Planning’ as one of my electives to complete my program and opted for other courses. I believe most aspects of event planning is pretty similar (a matter of goal setting and measuring, coordinating respective parties building rapport and of course the logistics) – the only differing factor were the opinions and people to please.

Since my engagement last August my life has been consumed by wedding planning. I’m not the type of girl that grew up envisioning my wedding day or my perfect man. I never even started dating until I turned twenty five. I’ve spent half of my life planning and executing events so I thought this wedding planning business would be a piece of cake.

Little did I know how much of a challenge planning this event would be. There are so many moving pieces, deadlines and yes important people to please – all the while trying to stay on budget! Midway through my own planning here are my tips to any newly engaged couple out there:

1. Budgets – I can’t preach about how to stay on budget but just its importance. In retrospect budgeting is the most crucial part of any planning. You need to do thorough market research with every component of your wedding to make sure you have accurate numbers for your plan.
2. Your Wedding Planning Bible – This is binder/digital spreadsheet that contains ALL the information regarding every supplier, attendee or logistical timeline for your wedding. Create one – JUST ONE. We started with a binder then wrote on notepads and sheets; finally we progressed to an online spreadsheet which was easier to maintain.
3. Openness – At this stage of the process I think it’s really important to be open with your fiance and family members with their wishes for the wedding. Discussions around who wants what and when will be happening after your engagement – especially if you come from a  family centred culture. So while you have your plan and your discussions with your fiance there needs to be some wiggle room to save you your sanity.

Some days I think of how amazing a destination wedding would be, or better yet, a trip down to city hall (my frugal side). Don’t get me wrong – I value the religious ceremony and having my closest friends and family around – but I’m not sure that I will be sane by the end of these 8 months. Most people I know or have come to know have opted to skip through this stressful limbo of “planning” by either eloping or hiring planners. With my limited budget, I am opting for a Day Of Coordinator but am slowly starting to wish I had a planner. The only challenge a planner would not solve or fix are the (important) people pleasing – that is the biggest challenge I am facing now.

I’ll keep you posted on my next steps!

*advice welcome*